There are many types of fibers available today , with new specialty types
appearing on a regular basis from companies such as Kreinik, Madeira, DMC and
the Caron Collection. Here is a partial list of what you may
find, and what they may be used for.

Flower Thread

A matte-finish, 100% cotton thread available in skeins. Available from
several fiber manufacturers. The original is Danish Flower Thread. DMC
has 108 flower thread colors, most of which match their floss numbers.
Used for traditional Danish embroidery. Also recommended for
linen/evenweaves and for afghans. Equal to about two or three strands
of embroidery floss.

Medici Wool

A DMC product with a homespun look. Looks especially nice with natural
linen.

Metallic Blending Filament

One ply thin metallic thread, available on spools. Frequently combined
with regular floss to provide extra sparkle.
Tips:
Use short strands.

Metallic Braids and Ribbons

Metallic threads, available on spools. Used alone to provide
definition, sparkle and texture. The braids are rounded, and the
ribbons are flat.
Tips:
Slipknot the thread onto the needle.
Run the threads over a fabric softener sheet.
Use short strands.

Perle Cotton

A "mercerized, twisted, non-divisible lustrous cotton thread"
available in skeins and balls. Used with many counted thread
techniques, such as pulled thread and Hardanger. Available in different
weights--#5 equal to about four strands of embroidery floss, and #3
equal to about six strands.

Ribbon Floss

A shiny, flat fiber. Can be used with Metallic Ribbon to provide some
real sparkle.

Silk Thread

Available as solid or hand painted variegated skeins. Beautifully
smooth. CAUTION--some silk thread is not colorfast.

Thanks to jipacker@aol.com for first contributing a list of DMC colors
organized by family.

I have updated the list in several times to match the names
supplied in the DMC color name chart and to add new colors.

Use the color name chart as a guide only. To quote directly from
DMC's own color name chart:

Please note that DMC refers to its colors by number only. Any color names
given to our colors are done so by the individual designer of a publication
or chart. The color names on this list have been assigned to DMC's Six Strand
Embroidery Floss and Pearl Cotton colors by consensus. This list may aid you
in choosing the correct DMC colors. However, the names assigned to these
colors on your chart may differ from this listing so it would be best for you
to make the final decision.

DMC colors discontinued only in Europe in 2001 are marked with a "*"
before the number.
DMC colors added only only in Europe in 2001 are not yet added to this chart.

Use the floss conversion chart as a guide only. It is difficult to give exact
matches between different brands of embroidery floss. Where two or more
numbers divided by slashes are listed in one column, use a combination of
these colors.

Similarly, use the color name chart as a guide only. To quote directly from
DMC's own color name chart:

Please note that DMC refers to its colors by number only. Any color names
given to our colors are done so by the individual designer of a publication
or chart. The color names on this list have been assigned to DMC's Six Strand
Embroidery Floss and Pearl Cotton colors by consensus. This list may aid you
in choosing the correct DMC colors. However, the names assigned to these
colors on your chart may differ from this listing so it would be best for you
to make the final decision.

I've tweaked and updated this chart often over the years.
Thanks to Dawn Scotting for originally posting the DMC-Coats-Anchor floss
color conversion chart; to Chris O'Donnell for posting the color name chart;
to Wanda Wolfe for thinking to combine the two; to Barbara Joyce for adding
new DMC colors; and to Lillian Banchik for adding the Marlette, Medicis,
and Au Ver A Soie colors.

The headings:

JPC

- J&P Coates

Anch

- Anchor

Marl

- Marlette

Medic

- Medicis

DMC colors discontinued only in Europe in 2001 are marked with a "*"
before the number.
DMC colors added only only in Europe in 2001 are marked with a "+"
before the number.

Thanks to Lil Banchik <LHBanchik@aol.com> for this conversion table.
Where there is more than one Anchor/DMC color listed it's because Madeira has
no exact match. The cross listed colors are the closest matches available.

Please note that the Danish Flower Thread to DMC Flower Thread
conversion was achieved by converting from Danish Flower Thread
to DMC floss, and then from DMC floss to DMC Flower Thread.
Other DMC Flower Thread numbers may match those numbers that are blank.

Thanks to Lil Banchik for requesting, and Meg Shinall for granting, permission
to include this conversion chart in the FAQ. And an extra thanks to Lil for
typing it all in.

To quote from the original pamphlet:

These comparisons are meant as guidelines only. Ginnie Thompson Flower
Thread is a unique thread that gives a totally different appearance to a
design. Make your color conversions by laying out the DMC skeins called
for in color family groups. Lay out the skein/cards of corresponding GTFT
color families that appeal to you but do not necessarily match the
DMC colors. A single shade of GTFT can replace more than one DMC color,
just as one strand of GTFT can be used in place of two strands of DMC.
Note the GTFT colors on the thread code of the design you are
converting for easy reference.

Thanks to Heather <heather@xux.net> for the
following comments and tables.

This is a list of most (all?) the Mill Hill antique, pebble, and glass
beads with the bead name and closest matching DMC and Anchor floss
numbers. Some of the color choices are my opinion, some from kits and
charts and others from the net. Before substituting a bead for a french
knot or choosing a floss color to attach the bead, check the colors for
yourself to see if you agree.

Petite Glass bead numbers are found by changing the first 0 to 4 (i.e.
00252 is 40252 in petite). I think all the same colors are available.

Welcome. This is one of several Needlework Frequently Asked Questions
(Needlework FAQs) documents.

The FAQs are a collection of information that should be of use to people who
do many kinds of needlework. The hints and tips
contained here have been collected from many people who have been kind enough
to share their wisdom with the rec.crafts.textiles.needlework Usenet
newsgroup.

Although efforts were made to make sure that the information in this FAQ was
correct, this document is provided as is, with no warranties or guarantees of
any kind either expressed or implied. Any commercial products or services are
listed as a courtesy to the reader. No endorsement or value judgement is
expressed or implied.

The FAQs are successors to the original "Counted Cross Stitch FAQ",
first posted to the old rec.crafts.textiles newsgroup on April 20, 1994.
Thanks to the people who have given permission for their messages and postings
to be quoted directly.